Process and apparatus for treating hydrocarbons



Nov. 15, 1932. J, D -SEGUY 1,888,051 PRocEss AND APPmmusv FOR TREATING HYpRocARBoNs original Filed oct. ze, 1923 coNnENsEa RECEIVER.

sETTLmG TANK Patented Nov. 15, 1932A UNITED STATES PATENT VOFFICE. 1

PANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR TREATIN -HYDEOCARBONS Application led October 26, 1923, Serial-No. 670,847. Renewed -J'uly 8, 1929.

This invention relates to improvements in treating hydrocarbon oils, and refers more particularly to the production of a light hydrocarbon having the characteristics of gasoline from a heavy hydrocarbon by means of heat and pressure.

In its application, the improvement herein described refers to heating oil under heat and pressure; passing this heated oil to an expansion chamber having a tapered bottom where the heavy residue and carbon precipitated will collect, the residue being mechanically maintained in agitated condition; continuously withdrawing the residue and passing it to settling tanks entirely outside the system, Where the carbon will settle and the hot residue returned to the system for further treatment. In addition, I use the distillate, which has already been cracked, to condense the vapors coming from the cracking system. l

For years, carbon diiculties have been a serious factor in the cracking of hydrocarbon oils, the length of continuous operation being based on the amount of carbon precipitated in the -cracking system. By the above method of allowing the carbon to settle, and withdrawing the hot residue continuously, it will be seen that the clogging up of the expansion chamber will be eliminated,`

and the system operated for a maximum period of time. The single figure of the drawing is a dia-- grammatic side elevational view with parts in section, showing in detail my invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 1 designates the charging line provided with the pump 2 and valves 3, 4, and 5. The line 1 may lead to the heating coil 6, Which in this instance takes the form of a continuous coil of 3 to 8 pipe,'mounted in the furnace 7 which may be heated by the burn'er 8. The oil after passing through the heating tubes 6 is passed by means of the transfer line 9 lprovided with a suitable valve, to an expanwith the taperingy portion of the chamber for keeping the contents in constant agita- 'JEAN VD. SEGUY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB. T0 UNIVERSAL OIL PRODUCTS COM- tated carbon from the bottom ofthe expansion chamber, through the drawoif line 13 controlled by valve 14. This drawoff line may lead to any one of several settling tanks 15 and 16, of whichtwo are shown in the present instance. In case it may be desired to direct the residue into tank 15, the valve 17 on the connection leading to tank 15 is opened, and the valve 18 on the connection to tank 16 is closed, vice versa. These settling tanks are used merely for the purpose of allowing the residue to precipitate its suspended carbon on the bottom thereof, which carbon may be drawn olf through the manholes 19. The

tanks may be insulated to prevent the radia tion of heat and residue drawoli' lines 20 controlled by valves 21 may be provided for con- Vleading to what may be,termed the residue rerun pump 24, which pumps the hot residue back to the system for further treatment.

The vapors evolved in the expansion chamu v ber 10 pass through the vapor outlet 25 controlled by suitable valve 26S-.a to the dephlegmator .26, where the vapors are subjected to dephlegmation, and where a portion of the vapors will condense. The still uncondensed vapors will pass through the vapor line 27 controlled by valve 27-a to the condenser 28 seated in condenser box 29, and thence to receiver 30. This receiver is equipped with the usual pressure relief pipe 31 controlled by valve 32, distillate drawoif line 33 controlled by valve 34, liquid level gauges, pressure gauges, etc.

Referring to another novel feature of my invention, I may return the cracked distillate by means of the pump 35 and feed line 36 and valve e36-a, tothe condenser box 29 to be used as a cooling medium for the vapors coming from the dephleginator. It will be readily seen that a certain percentage of the cracked pressure distillate will vaporize, due to the heat transferred to it from the hot vapors going through the Condenser coil 28. I provide a drawof 3T for withdrawing the revaporized distillate, which may then be condensed and collected in the usual manner.

I Wish to point out that the product of the revaporization of the cracked distillate will be substantially Water-White in color, and will possess all the c-hzuacteristics of commercial gasoline, ready for use with little further ren'ning. Also, it may be advisable to carry out this latter operation under atmospheric pressure rather than under a pump pressure.

The unmporized portion of the cracked distillate, or pressure distillate bottoms, may be returned, through the line 38 to the charging line as shown. The charging stock may be fed to the heating coils or to the dephlegmater or part of the feed to each, by what may be termed the split feed by manipulation of the valves 3, 4 and 5. The reflux condensate from the dephlegmator 26 will be Withdrawn through the line 39 cont-rolled by valve l0, and may be returned to the feed line to he heating coils for further treatment. In-

terposed in this line 80 is a drawoif 41 controlled by valve 42, connected to the expansion chamber, 'for allowing the reflux condensate to pass into'said expansion chamber.

It is understood, of course, that when one settling tank is substantially lilled with carbon, it may be cut out by closing the valve on the inlet and diverting the residue into another settling tank by opening its valve.

An illustrative run may be as follows:

A Mid-Continent gas oil of say 30 to 32 Baume may be charged into the heating coils and there heated to a temperature of say 750o to 950 F., sullicient to vaporize a very substantial quantity of the oil. The heated oil then passes to the exp ansion chamber Where substantial vaporization takes place, the vapors passing through the dephlegmator and condenser as explained. The Whole system may be maintained under a self-generated vapor pressure oI" 125 pounds more or less, or a differential pressure maintained on di'li'erent parts of the system if desired. -Residuuin may be continuouslyr Withdrawn from: lthe expansion chamber', the carbon drawn ott in the settling tank and the hot residue return-ed to be retreated.

By this method of operation, it is possible to produce 60 to 80% cracked distillate of l-S to 52 Baume gravity, which on distillation Will produce from 35% to 60% commercial Navy speciiication gasoline.

I claim as my invention: Y

l. A process for cracking oil, consisting in subjecting the oil to conversion conditions of heat and Vpressure in a coil, in transferring the heated oil to an enlarged chamber, in dephlegmating the vapors issuing from said chamber, in condensing and collecting the ydephlegmated vapors, in continuously discharging unvaporized residual oil from said chamber to a settling zone wherein substanf tial portions of its free carbon content is precipitated in re-distilline' substantial portions of the pressure distillate produced, under a lower pressure than is maintained on the oil in the coil by passage thereof through a. zone of heat interchange With uncondensed vapors, in returning regulated quantities of the unvaporized distillate from said zone of heat interchange and carbon-free residual oil from said se 'tling zone to` said coil for further treatment.

2. An apparatus for treating hydrocarbon oil, comprising a heating coil disposed Within a furnace, an enlarged reaction chamber, means connecting said coil with such chamber, a dephlegmator, means for conveying vapors from said enlarged chamber to said dephlegmator, means for introducing oil to said dephlegmator to act as a dephlegmating medium for the vapors therein, a conduit for conveying reflux condensate from said dephlegmator to said enlarged reaction chamber. a valve in said conduit, a second conduit for conveying the reflux condensate directly to the heating coil When said valve is closed, and means for maintaining a selfgenerated superatmospheric pressure on the oil undergoing conversion in the apparatus.

JEAN D. SEGUY.

. D sc LAl M E. R l `1, 888,051.-Jean D. Seguy, Chicago,\]]l. PROCESS AND APPARATUS iron TREATING HimnocARBoNs.V Patent dated November '15, 1932. Disclaimer filed September 28,/1933, by the patentee, the assignee, Universal Products Company, approving and concurring. n v

Hereby enters this disclaimer to the subject matter constituting claim 2 of the I patent, which reads as follows:

An apparatus for treating hydrocarbon oil, comprising a heating coil disposedwithln a furnace, an enlarged reactlonchamben'A means connecting said coil with such".

chamber; la dephlegmator, means for conveying vapors from said enlarged chamber to said dephlegmator, meansfor introducing oil tosald dephlegmator to actas a dephlegmating medium for the vapors therein,l a conduit for conveying reiiux con- -densate from said dephlegmator to said enlaredreaction chamber, a valve said ,condut, a 'second conduit for conveying there ux condensate dlrectly to the heating coil when said. valve Ais closed, and means for maintaining a self-generated super- .atmospheric pressurer on the oil undergoing conversion in the apparatus.

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